The Festival of Faiths held at the Western Regional Little League Ballpark was a moving, uplifting and inspirational way of bringing people of every faith together in prayer and support of San Bernardino.

This creates new friendships and alliances with a common vision to continue growing a harmonious community, setting an example of how we can all work together for the greater good.

I would like to thank everyone who helped make our 200th birthday very special. The positive display of who and what we are is something needed more often. The Bicentennial Committee has definitely achieved that; I hope it sets a standard for our city to pull together and continue being a cohesive, united community.

We have our share of challenges but we should not forget our rich heritage nor overlook the good and the positive aspects of our community that in total far outweigh the negative.

PENNY HOLCOMB San Bernardino

A narrow view

Re: “Illegal voting feared,” Aug. 29.

Mr. Herrera, your statement, “The only people who go to the Catholic Church in San Bernardino are illegal aliens,” is a display of ignorance.

I am a native Californian, a Catholic and a member of St. Charles Catholic Church in Bloomington.

I have been a Catholic all my life and will be until my death. I know of many other people in San Bernardino who are proud citizens and Catholics.

It is disappointing to know that a place like Claremont would be represented by such a narrow-minded person.

CAROL POPYACK Bloomington

Rialto residents lose

The Rialto City Council, in all its glory, canceled the Nov. 2 election in which Councilman Joe Baca Jr. and Councilwoman Deborah Robertson are up for re-election. The two incumbents were the only people registered for the election on time. Rialto has a population over 100,000 and none of the residents chose to register to run against these two incumbents.

Why do the citizens of Rialto neglect to participate in city government? Apathy? Satisfaction? Poverty? As a result of the contaminated drinking water? What are the reasons for Rialto citizens’ disinterest in city politics?

With the news of the two incumbents running unopposed and the possibility of the cancellation of the election, Alley Kat Jazz Lounge owner Jason Davis decided to run for City Council as a write-in candidate. Davis explained to the council not to cancel the election because he was a serious candidate and Rialto should uphold the Democratic process. The council still voted to cancel the election, proclaiming that Davis didn’t have any chance of winning as a write-in candidate.

Rialto saved a few bucks canceling the election, but what did the citizens of Rialto lose? Rialto citizens are poor and uneducated. The youth have become dull and distrust government systems because their only knowledge of the systems is the Police Department, which has a history of corruption. The people of Rialto don’t know how the city government works.

Rialto is given about $1.3 million annually from the CDBG projects grant, which is a federal grant to help low-income persons and to prevent and eliminate slums and blight. Why isn’t any of this money used to educate the poor in how governments work in a democracy? If the poor understood their power as a majority in a democracy, they would know how to participate in their city government.

ABE HIGGINS Rialto

Honor Paul’s memory

As a distant relative of Alice Paul, I was thrilled to read about the push for a Congressional Gold Medal for her work, sacrifice, and determination in the women’s suffrage movement. (Re: “Gold medal sought for women’s suffrage leader,” Aug. 29.)

However, I can’t help but wonder how she would have felt knowing this proposal comes from Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, who is reported to be less than supportive of women at the local political level. On a state level, Rep. Loretta Sanchez has stated that Baca treats women poorly. She has very publicly expressed her concerns about his general attitude toward women, thus calling into question Baca’s motivation to publicly push for recognition of a pioneer in the women’s rights movement.

Alice Paul fought with her heart and soul not only for the right of women to vote, but also for them to be treated with dignity and respect. To do anything less is not truly honoring her memory, Congressional Gold Medal or not.

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